Pallone Says Affordability and Accessibility Are Top Priorities In Health Care Reform
April 16, 2009 Joins With Wowkanech In Stressing Economic Imperative of Timely Action By Congress FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 16, 2009 CONTACT: Richard McGrath Tali Israeli (202) 225-4671 Trenton - Continuing his ongoing advocacy for comprehensive health care reform, U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. joined with one of New Jersey′s top labor leaders on Thursday to focus on the priority importance of affordability and accessibility in the Congressional reform plan and to stress the value of timely action. As Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce′s Subcommittee on Health, Pallone is playing a leading role in reforming the nation′s health care system. Pallone launched a statewide initiative in New Jersey to get input on the experiences, problems and opinions from a broad array of people to aid in the reform process. On Thursday, Pallone and Charlie Wowkanech, President of the New Jersey AFL-CIO, heard about the frustrations and the fears of workers who encounter a health care system that can be unforgiving for the uninsured and the underinsured. "For far too long, Washington has ignored the many problems that plague the health care system in America, problems that have reached a level of crisis," said Pallone. "Skyrocketing medical care, unaffordable health plans and inconsistent quality now afflict a system that can and does provide the best care medical science can deliver for those with the right coverage or the right amount of money. Quality care should be available and affordable to all." There are now an estimated 47 million Americans without insurance. In New Jersey, approximately 1.2 million people have no coverage, a figure that doubles to 2.4 million people who went without insurance at some point during the past two years. Fueling the crisis is a recession where the loss of a job often means the loss of health insurance. "We also have an underinsurance problem in this country," said Pallone. "Many people have policies with expensive co-pays and deductibles and many families are one accident or one illness away from financial ruin. Medical debt is the leading cause of bankruptcy for American families." Pallone said he shares the belief of President Obama and others that there is an economic imperative to delivering reforms this year, that they will aid economic recovery and are a vital part of long-term growth. "We can′t afford to wait," Pallone said. "We can′t rebuild or redirect the economy if we don′t fix health care." Pallone praised the grassroots efforts of the AFL-CIO and other groups that have tapped into the public′s desire for reform with organized advocacy. |
